As temperatures remained low with no prospect for thawing until Sunday, Governor Pat McCrory said that safety was still the top concern for him and the state emergency operations team. With icy roadways and little chance of any thawing today, he urged the public to remain patient and not venture out onto the roads too soon.
“Appearances can be deceiving, and the road that looks passable may be a sheet of ice,” Governor McCrory cautioned. “Please remember if you go out, you put not only your own life at risk, but those of first responders, utility workers, and Department of Transportation crews as well.”
The last snow showers are expected to leave the state by Sunday morning. Higher temperatures are forecast for Sunday, when the accumulated ice and snow should begin to thaw. With the storm entering its third day today, the concern is that people may be tempted to go out on the roads before it is safe to do so. Until road conditions improve, everyone is urged to remain patient while NCDOT crews work to clear roads 0f snow and ice.
“Our crews have made significant progress throughout the day and while conditions have improved, we continue to ask that drivers stay off the roads,” Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson said. “Slick spots and ice will continue to be a concern, even if roadways appear to be clear, and the safety of motorists and our crews is always our top priority. We are working to address impacted roads as quickly as we can, and thank you for your cooperation as we deal with the effects of this storm.”
The State Highway Patrol has responded to more than 3,700 calls for assistance and investigated more than 2,100 crashes since the storm began. Since Wednesday, six weather-related motor vehicle fatalities have been reported. The deaths resulted from crashes in Iredell, Catawba, Wilkes, Johnston, Stokes and Forsyth counties.
The number of power outages decreased during the day, but nearly 95,000 homes and businesses remained without power late on Saturday afternoon. Everyone is urged to make sure they have their battery-powered radios and flashlights ready, due to the continued power outages. With so many North Carolinians forced to use space heaters and generators, Emergency Management stressed the need for everyone to observe basic safety precautions when using such devices:
- Never leave a space heater unattended and remember to turn it off when leaving a room or going to sleep.
- Carbon monoxide alarms can save lives; if possible, install and test one before using heating or cooking equipment that burns gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil or methane.
- Ensure the vents for the dryer, furnace, fireplace, and stove are clear of snow or ice before using them.
- Generators should only be used in well-ventilated areas outdoors, well away from windows and doors and vent openings.
- Only use gas or charcoal grills outdoors.
The following storm response measures have been taken since the storm began:
- All State Highway Patrol troopers are activated or on standby.
- More than 130 National Guard soldiers are working in winter catch teams to help locate and assist stranded motorists.
- National Guard soldiers assisted in transporting patients needing dialysis treatment to and from hospitals in central and western North Carolina.
- Eight National Guard Forestry Support teams are working with forestry crews to clean debris from roads around Butner and Rockingham.
- NCDOT crews placed nearly 2.2 million gallons of salt brine in an effort to help prevent ice from bonding to the roadway, and have also used more than 46,000 tons of salt and more than 13,700 tons of salt-sand mixture to clear roads of snow and ice.
- NCDOT reported no road closures as of late Saturday afternoon, but conditions remain hazardous in impacted areas of the state.
“North Carolina’s emergency response team is the best in the country,” said Gov. McCrory. “They are still responding to the challenges of this storm and are ready to assist the counties and regional branches with whatever support is required.”
More information about storm response and recovery efforts can be found on ReadyNC.org (link is external) or by following NC Emergency on Facebook (link is external) and Twitter (link is external). Real-time information about weather and road conditions and other emergency preparedness actions can be found via the free ReadyNC mobile app.
###